Four Militant Attacks in Jammu and Kashmir

Dec 05, 2014

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In a series of terror attacks in Kashmir, large parts of which will vote on Tuesday, 13 people were killed today. They include nine soldiers, three policemen, and one civilian.

Two terrorists who opened fire at a police post in the heart of Srinagar and were shot dead were planning a major strike ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in the city on Monday, sources said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for sheltering terrorists who cross the border to target India. "I think Pak should try to stop these incidents, if they can't they should speak to India about it," he said.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Office said this evening that there is no change for now in PM Modi's campaign plan.

The attacks in Srinagar and Uri, a border town, were synchronized, say army sources.

A massive suicide attack at an army camp in Uri exacted most of today's casualties. A little after 3 am this morning, terrorists cut through a wire fence around the small artillery camp and then fired rocket-propelled grenades at the security men in their bunkers, an army officer said.

Eight soldiers and three policemen were killed in their bunkers.

2 people were killed and 11 injured in two more attacks in Tral and Shopian, where terrorists threw a grenade at a bus stand and a police station.

Separatists in Jammu and Kashmir have called for a boycott of the election that began late last month but voters have turned out in record numbers on the two days of polling held so far, braving freezing temperatures and long lines. Terrorists have stepped up attacks after a lull of months.

The result of the state election will be announced on December 23. Led by an expansive campaign by the Prime Minister, the BJP is making its most serious bid yet to win power for the first time in the state, banking on votes in the Hindu-majority Jammu and Buddhist Ladakh areas. It is also capitalising on the rise of independents and splits elsewhere in Muslim-majority Kashmir.